Costa Verde Cruise Tour

1-8 Nights

The Costa Verde around Paraty is perhaps the finest place in Brazil for a coastal cruise. The calm waters of the bay, 365 tropical islands, beautiful beaches, mountains, inlets, waterfalls, snorkelling, mangroves and hopefully a little wildlife all come together to make sure that your cruise is as scenic and enjoyable as possible.

The Costa Verde around Paraty is perhaps the finest place in Brazil for a coastal cruise. The calm waters of the bay, 365 tropical islands, beautiful beaches, mountains, inlets, waterfalls, snorkelling, mangroves and hopefully a little wildlife all come together to make sure that your cruise is as scenic and enjoyable as possible.

Cruises can be organised for any length of time, from a day out of Paraty, or 1-2 nights around Saco da Mamangua, to a longer cruise of a week or more to explore as much of the coastline and islands as possible. Cruises of up to a week or so will usually stay around the Paraty Bay, where waters are usually calmer than the open ocean beyond. Nights are spent at sheltered anchor points along the route, with islands and headlands providing protection from the wind, with only tiny waves. Boats of varying size can be used, all very well appointed modern motor yachts and sail boats.

Meals can be made by a professional chef on board with you for the duration, or some pre-prepared meals to take along with fresh produce. We can also arrange the shopping list in advance based around your requirements, and load up the larder with the food and drink that you prefer. Self-catering is always an option too of course if you prefer. On every journey there will always be restaurants that operate solely for people arriving by boat that open for seafood lunches sitting on the edge of the bay with fabulous views over the sea and mountains.

Activities can be arranged during your Costa Verde Cruise, for which we can provide qualified guides as necessary: hiking trails through the rainforest to mountain peaks and freshwater falls; paddling kayaking and stand-up paddle boards around the calm bays and mangroves; snorkelling with sea-turtles and tropical fish at various points; scuba diving can also be arranged to combine with your cruise; and of course, with a sailing boat and a professional sailing instructor as your captain, then learning how to sail your own beautiful boat can be part of your time aboard.

A cruise around the Costa Verde is recommended for anybody and everybody, and it makes a wonderful stand-alone trip or a perfect finish to a longer tour. Special occasions such as wedding anniversaries and birthdays can be made just that little bit more so with time spent exploring the most spectacular coastline in Brazil.

Best Time to Visit: A Costa Verde cruise can be taken at any time of year around the tropical waters of Paraty Bay. The heat of summer in January and February can lead to storms although they often don't last so long. The weather patterns are not always predictable on the Costa Verde, so any period could leave you with clear blue skies all day, but with mountains full of Atlantic Rainforest, then there is always the chance of rain as well.

Brazil Adventure Tours provide you with ideas for tours of Brazil and South America, with all being completely flexible with regards to dates, duration or the tours, activities and classes that we can include. Our website tours are our recommendations based on our experience of how to make the very best of your time in South America. We can adjust these details in any way that you wish, with a little advice from us of course. We can combine any of our destinations that you wish to visit into one tour, and for however long you wish to visit them. Any of our Traditional and Adventure tours can also be combined in whichever way you prefer. We are here to organise a tour that suits you after all, not the other way around!

Day 1 : Down the Costa Verde to Paraty

Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo to Paraty

After leaving from one of the big cities of Rio or Sao Paulo, you journey 3-4 hours along the Costa Verde, Brazil\'s Emerald Coast and possibly its most spectacular coastal route. Jungle-covered mountains tower up to your right and tropical islands dot the sparkling blue Bay of Angra dos Reis to your left. Beaches are also visible between the palm trees, and waterfalls tumble down the mountainsides. After checking in to your Paraty hotel, you can spend the afternoon exploring the historic centre of the old port town. Early evening brings a briefing on your next few days of cruising, with dinner in the town afterwards. You can then prepare to embark on your Costa Verde Cruise in the morning.

Day 2 : Costa Verde Cruising

Paraty to Costa Verde Cruise

After transferring to the Paraty Marina you board your charter cruise to explore the coast and islands of Paraty Bay. Sailing yacht, motor cruiser, catamaran, or luxury speedboat, depending on the size and budget of your group, all of which would come with captain included. Private cabins and facilities allow you to cruise the Costa Verde in comfort. Your crew can also help to make your time as relaxed or as active as you like, with plenty of peaceful days, or perhaps some hiking to the peaks and waterfalls of the surrounding mountains. Stand-up paddle boards, kayaks and snorkels can also be used to explore the coastline and islands, while scuba diving days can also be arranged.

Day 3 : Paraty-Mirim Cove

Costa Verde Cruise

The first stops out of Paraty include a visit to Ilha dos Mantimentos, which used to store the town\'s food supplies on the island. Now the island is home to a population of the rare golden lion tamarin, a beautifully coloured golden monkey. Praia Vermelha has red-coloured sands and clear waters of the mainland headlands, while sea-turtles can often be found feeding in the neighbouring bay off Jurumirim beach. After rounding Ponta Grossa you enter the Paraty-Mirim Cove, with the chance to visit the small historic town before exploring the hidden corners of this beautiful inlet, and Ilha da Cotia which guards the entrance and whose sheltered bays make an ideal stop for the night.

Day 4 : Saco da Mamangua

Costa Verde Cruise

Saco da Mamangua is the only tropical fjord in Brazil, an 8km inlet of emerald waters, with 2km separating the steep sides. Mountains of up to 600m range the whole length, with lush vegetation covering the slopes. The stunning Mamangua scenery makes it perhaps the most popular spot on the whole coastline to moor a boat and relax on board or on the beaches. You can also explore the mangroves at the furthest point from the opening, with snorkelling and stand-up paddle boards to help. Sugar Loaf Mountain towers 438m over the water, and a forest trail takes you to the open peak to enjoy some of the finest views in Brazil. At least one night in the Mamangua fjord is recommended for any length of cruise.

Day 5 : Cajaiba Coastline

Costa Verde Cruise

Around the coast from Mamangua, the next bay is Cajaiba, the final bay before entering the open ocean. Ilha Deserta is the small, deserted island marking the entrance. Praia do Deserta is the first beach around the curve, with Praia Grande being the largest. Pouso da Cajaiba is the main village with the two highest peaks on the Laranjeiras Peninsula looming behind, Pico do Cairuçu at 1,070m and Jamanta at 1,098m. Trails pass between the beaches and also across the Juatinga Reserve to Martim da Sa, a famous remote surf beach on the ocean side of the peninsula. The lighthouse at Ponta Juatinga marks the start of the open ocean, although most cruises and sailing trips don\'t pass it.

Day 6 : Crossing to Ilha Grande

Costa Verde Cruise

The crossing from Paraty or Mamangua to Ilha Grande, the largest island in the bay, is around 25km at the shortest points, taking two hours to complete with motor, or more if sails are set! This is the perfect opportunity to learn a little about sailing if you like. Options for the western side of the island include a snorkel with sea turtles that feed at Meros. Gruta do Acaia is a half-submerged cave with a swim-through into the ocean for those who dare! Praia da Araçatiba has the largest village on the western side with Pico do Urubu overlooking it, while Bananal also has its own viewpoint peak. The two famous lagoons of the island are Lagoa Azul and Verde, both with excellent snorkelling opportunities.

Day 7 : Saco do Ceu & Abraao

Costa Verde Cruise

Waking up at anchor in a beautiful part of Ilha Grande is a special treat on clear mornings, with turquoise waters, emerald mountains, clouds rising up the slopes and blue skies overhead, and Saco do Ceu is certainly one of those spots. Enseada das Estrelas is the bay of the stars close by, and equally stunning. The next bay around has Vila do Abraao, the main town of the island, with Julia and Crena too, both places worth exploring by kayak and stand-up paddle, with sea-turtles often spotted here too. Anchoring off Abraao allows a night exploring the bars, restaurants and shops of the town if you like, with some nightlife as well if that appeals.

Day 8 : Lopes Mendes and More

Costa Verde Cruise

Passing the next headland is the smaller Abraaozinho beach, with Brava, Palmas and Pouso all worth visiting too. A pass between the hills takes you to Lopes Mendes, regularly voted as one of the finest beaches in Brazil. If you prefer not to take the trail, then sailing around the Castelhanos lighthouse on the eastern point of the island and a short passage of open ocean takes you to enjoy this stretch of tropical paradise. Longer trips can continue the circumnavigation of Ilha Grande, through Dois Rios, Parnaioca and Aventureiro, although in rough seas this is not always possible. The continental side is calmer and offers more secure anchor points.

Day 9 : Costa Verde Cruise Options

Costa Verde Cruise

A Costa Verde boat trip can be tailored to your requirements in any way. Any length of cruise can be organised, from a simple day out of Paraty, 1 or 2 nights in Saco da Mamangua, to multi-day options sailing around the whole bay. We can also include journeys to and from Rio by boat, although with no stopping points in the open ocean. Sailing down to Santos and Sao Paulo with stops in Ubatuba and Ilhabela is also possible. Options to suit different budgets are also available, with self-catering to having your own professional chef on board. Boat sizes range from 2 to 8 passengers, or more if using more than one boat. Sailing lessons can also make part of your Costa Verde Cruise Tour.

Day 10 : Sailing Away from the Costa Verde

Costa Verde to Rio de Janeiro & Away

The short crossing from Ilha Grande back to the mainland has you arriving at the port where your cruise finishes. From there you drive on to the airport in Rio de Janeiro, with Sao Paulo also an option to arrive and depart, with sailing all the way to Rio, or taking a small plane or helicopter flight also possible. As well as spending any length of time aboard your cruise boat, we can also combine this idea with any of our other destinations across Brazil and South America, with Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls being two obvious places to make a wonderful little trip. Finishing any tour with a Costa Verde Cruise would make it even more special.

PRICES

Simple

3 Star

4 Star

Luxury

Per Adult *

On Request

On Request

On Request

On Request

Domestic Flights **

N/A

Suggested Hotels

Simple

3 Star

4 Star

Luxury

Paraty

Ilha Grande

Costa Verde

* Prices vary depending on travel dates and flight availability. Peak periods in Brazil including Carnaval, public holidays and Christmas/New Year usually require a minimum number of nights, so in these cases itineraries may need to be changes. ** Domestic flight prices are estimated on typical values when reserved 6 months before travel. Prices can never be guaranteed until reservations are made though, and do usually become more expensive closer to the travel period.

Do I need any special vaccinations for the areas visited during this tour?

Visitors to Brazil and South America are advised to always check the latest health information from your local doctors or travel clinic.
You may be advised to take a course of Malaria tablets. Yellow Fever Vaccine is highly recommended/essential for the Pantanal & Amazon region, plus the certificate to prove it, and possibly Hepatitis A and B Vaccines.
Please check our Brazil Vaccinations for further information.

What is the best time of year for this tour?

All Year Round

Boat Tour of the Bay - Paraty

Duration: 6 Hours

Your day begins with the short walk to Paraty's picturesque harbour, with brightly painted boats all waiting to head out into the bay. You leave the pier to visit some of the tropical islands, secluded beaches and crystal clear coves with stops for snorkelling, swimming and strolling along the sands. Lunch is usually served on board or perhaps on one of the islands. The pleasant cruise back arrives late afternoon as the sun dips behind the mountains, bathing Paraty in rays. Your trip can be done on the large schooners with other people or on smaller private boats.

Old Gold Trail Tour - Paraty

Duration: 8 Hours

A day in the Costa Verde hills takes you first to the Caminho do Ouro, the 500km road that connected the gold-rush areas of Ouro Preto and Tiradentes in Minas Gerais with the port of Paraty which was used to ship gold and minerals to Europe. The journey took 30 days, climbing the steep hills behind the town and through the mountain ranges of the Bocaina and Itatiaia National Parks. Parts of the road built by slaves in the 18th Century are still visible, alongside tumbling waterfalls in the Atlantic Rainforest. Trails to the falls, with a natural slide for the locals to impress visitors, make part of your day, along with a visit to an alambique, the sugar-cane cachaça distilleries of Brazil.

Saco da Mamangua Sailing - Paraty

Duration: 1-3 Days

Cruising out of Paraty takes you first to visit Ilha dos Mantimentos, which used to store the town's food supplies on the island. Now the island is home to a population of the rare golden lion tamarin, a beautifully coloured golden monkey. Praia Vermelha has red-coloured sands and clear waters of the mainland headlands, while sea-turtles can often be found feeding in the neighbouring bay off Jurumirim beach. Saco da Mamangua is the 8km inlet with towering mountains on either side. You can swim in the water, kayak in the mangroves and hike to the peaks.

Paraty Walking Tour - Paraty

Duration: 3 Hours

A walking tour of historic Paraty helps you to learn a little more about the town, its history, and its place in the story of Brazil. The town was settled by the Portuguese as one of their ports (along with one called Rio de Janeiro) to ship the riches of the Minas Gerais gold-rush to Europe. It is built as a harbour and even to receive the highest tides, and your guide can help you uncover the secrets. Baroque churches, colonial mansions and colourful town-houses line the streets and squares, with the fort on the small hill overlooking the red roofs.

Praias do Sono & Antigos Hike - Paraty

Duration: Full Day

This hike takes you up and over the hills of the remote Laranjeiras Peninsula to the start of the trail to Praia do Sono. A reasonably straightforward path over the headland through Atlantic Rainforest has you dropping down to the beautiful Praia do Sono. The beach and the fishing village there can only be reached by trail or boat. A stop for swimming in the crystal waters comes before you cross the next headland to the tropical paradise beaches of Antigos and Antiguinhos. After returning to Sono for a simple seafood lunch, you can either hike back or catch a ride with a local fisherman back to Laranjeiras and your transport back to Paraty for the evening.

Paraty Bay Kayak Trip - Paraty

Duration: 3 Hours

A wonderful few hours can be spent paddling around Paraty Bay by kayak. Leaving from the Jabaquara Beach on the opposite side of the fort hill, you head out around various islands, populated mostly by birds but also a holiday home or two. A stop at an island beach and then a secluded mainland one give the chance to cool off in the water. The paddle then continues into a closed bay, where a shallow channel through the mangroves leads through to the other side, with crabs, heron and egrets for company. Longer kayak trips and overnight paddles are also possible.

Trindade Tour - Paraty

Duration: All Day

The journey to Trindade takes you out of Paraty and over the hills of the Laranjeiras Pensinula, with steep roads to negotiate. Trindade is hidden by the hills of the Serra da Bocaina, which form part of a national park, and the coastline here is very spectacular, with huge rocks on the beaches, streams tumbling down, and verdant Atlantic Rainforest. The beaches range from the surf of Cepilho to the calm bays of Caxadaço, with a visit to the natural pools there possible by trail along the sand or by boat. Lunch is overlooking the main beach in Trindade, returning in the afternoon.

Horse-Riding & Mountain Biking - Paraty

Duration: Various Options

Horse-Riding and Mountain Biking trips can be arrange around Paraty, with rides in the shadows of the peaks that range behind the town. The horse-riding is down at Barra Grande, some 25km away, a ride along Atlantic Rainforest trails, and the chance to have a gallop in the meadows at the finish. Longer horse-rides are also possible, including a multi-day trip up through the mountains to Cunha. Mountain biking can be done with a guide or alone, with many routes to the various waterfalls, viewpoints and beaches of the area.

Stand-Up Paddle Trips - Paraty

Duration: Various Options

Paraty is the perfect place for stand-up paddle, and in fact the local fishermen have been doing it for centuries! The shallow waters of the bay off Jabaquara Beach are perfect to learn, while you can also paddle around Paraty, up the canal, and even up the streets of town during the highest tides of the year! Options for longer day trips heading out by boat to paddle around islands with beaches and monkeys, or bays with sea turtles are also available. Still more options include overnight trips, exploring the beautiful Saco da Mamangua, or SUP-surfing.

Saco da Mamangua Hike - Costa Verde

Duration: Full Day

This full day out to hike to the peak of Sugar Loaf Mountain (not that one!) is one of the finest in the whole of Brazil. The day begins with short drive to Paraty Mirim, the small village port that used to unload slaving ships. From there you hike over the first Costa Verde hill and into Saco da Mamangua, an 8km inlet with green mountains towering along the sides. After a beautiful crossing by boat, the trail begins from the beach, taking two hours to reach the open rock at the peak. The view of Mamangua and up and down the whole Costa Verde is one of the finest in Brazil! Lunch is on the beach below before returning to Paraty.